The Irish are without a win in five games, with the latest setback, a 3-0 humbling by Germany on Friday, having ended the team's slim hopes of finishing second in Group C.

Interim manager Noel King, who took temporary charge after the departure of Giovanni Trapattoni last month, must now try and boost his team ahead of the dead rubber fixture at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, as Ireland can only move from fourth to third if there is a 10-goal swing with Austria.

Despite a poor campaign, midfielder Glenn Whelan has called on the side to complete its fixtures with a flourish and believes it must show more attacking intent.

"We have got to finish on a high how," he said. "We know the group has been disappointing.

"For this [Germany] game, Noel [King] spoke about defending, but come Tuesday we would love him to let the reins off a little bit and go out on a high against Kazakhstan and give the fans something to cheer about."

Ireland's record goalscorer Robbie Keane was only named among the substitutes against Germany, but he could return to reclaim the captain's armband from Everton's Seamus Coleman.

Meanwhile, Kazakhstan heads into the fixture in the knowledge it will finish fifth in Group C, as the team trails Ireland by six points, but cannot be caught by bottom place Faroe Islands.

The team's solitary success in the group came in a 2-1 triumph over Faroe Islands in September, but it was defeated 2-1 by Ireland in the reverse fixture last September thanks to late goals from Keane and Kevin Doyle.

Shakhter Karagandy striker Andrei Finonchenko is likely to lead the line for Miroslav Beranek's side, and will look to add to his two goals in qualifying thus far.